Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are used to provide reserve power under different circumstances and needs such as; peak shaving, load leveling and ancillary services. The power electronics equipment converts the battery power into usable grid power.
A key component of a battery energy storage system is its Power Conditioning System (PCS). The PCS provides the interface between AC grid supply voltage and the variable operating voltage of the battery modules. The converter design itself is independent from the used batteries, because in all cases DC battery voltage has to be converted into AC grid voltage. The main components of the PCS are:
- Power transformer (adaptation to the grid voltage)
- Converter (including control and cooling system)
- Harmonic and DC filter circuits
- Batteries
- Battery heater power supply
To provide the most reliable solution, we use proven ABB inverter drive technology which may be air or water-cooled. The components are assembled in a custom enclosure, including switchgear and filter providing a compact solution, minimizing the footprint.
For lower power ratings (below 5 MVA), we utilize low voltage Insulated Gate Bi-Polar Transistors (IGBT.) For larger systems (5 MVA and beyond) a compact converter based on ABB's Integrated Gate Commutated Thyristor (IGCT) technology is used.